DOCUMENT RESUME ED 192 636 HE 013 029 AUTEOR Syverscn, Peter D. TITLE Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities. Summary Report 1979{ INSTITUTION National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, D.C. Commission on Human Resources. SPONS AGENCY National Endowment for the Humanities (NFAH), washington, D.C.: National Institutes cf Health (DHEW), Bethesda, Md.: Office of Education (DHE Washington, D.C. PUB DATE Mar 80 NOTE 46p.; Not available in paper copy due to marginal legibility of original document. AVAILABLE FROM National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Commission on Human Resources, Washington, DC 20E418 EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Doctoral Decrees: *Employment Patterns; Ethnic Groups: Females: Graduate Surveys; Higher Education: *Majors (Students): Males; Minority Groups; National Surveys: *Student Characteristics; Trend Analysis ABSTRACT A summary of data gathered from the National Research Council's Survey of Earned Doctorates during the academic year 1978-79 is presented. The data were obtained from questionnaire forms filled out by graduates as they completed requirements for their doctoral degrees. Between July 1,1978 and June 30, 1979 a total of 31,200 research doctorates were awarded by U.S. universities, This is an increase of 1.1 percent from doctorates awarded in 197B. Information is presented on the distribution of doctorate recipients by broad field and sex from 1969-79, trends in the employment and study plans of doctorate recipients, trends in postdoctoral study abroad plans, and employment plans by racial/ethnic group and field of doctorate. Statistical tables provide the following information: number of doctorate recipients by sex and subfield, number of doctorate recipients by citizenship, racial/ethnic group, and subfield: profile of doctorate recipients by sex and field of doctorate: percentage of doctorate recipients by sources of support in graduate school, by sex, and summary field: and profile of doctorate recipients by racial /ethnic group and U.S. citizenship status. A list of titles cf degrees included in the study and a sample form are included. (SW) * ********** * ************** ** *** ********** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ************ ************************************* * **** *** r4 r\J C3N M rY Lti Report 1979 U 5 OEPArqt55ENT -41R,t EOLICAttON 0*. NO, TIC NAL flEF-J4 TtNc_f'N:CUM, RECE!vVO F ONO O OPIN,ONS pc.ril REFRE- -4711 .,t,0 wa,1 siEr. iNVIITNTE OC - ,10.- A '113 sEINT=:-F,CtAt 'f-ITOZA _trtuo34 -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." v HIGHLIGHTS The total number of doctorates awarded was 31,200,an increase of 328, or 1.1%, from the 30,872 doctorates awarded in 1978. This growth constitutes the first upturn since the peak year of 1973. The proportion of women doctorates reached an all-time high of 28.6% in 1979, continuing a trend that began in 1965. The current number of 8,921 is now five times greater than the 1965 total. From .1978 to 1979; there was an increase in the number of doctorates awarded to men in the physical sciences, engineering, and the life sciences, the first growth in these fields in eight years. Overall, the number of men doctorates decreased 1.29, the smallest decrease since 1973. Of the five racial/ethnic groups shown in Table 5, black doctorate recipients have the highest proportion ofwomen doctorates, with 37.9%, followed by whites (26.9%), American Indians (28.5%), Hispanics (24.4%), and Asians (17.0%). Between 1969 and 1979,the proportion of doctorate recipients still seeking employment or further study at time of doctorate increased from 17.4% to 25.6% in the social sciences, from 13.5% to 37.5% in the humanities, and from 19.9% to 26.2% in education. Foreign language and literature was the discipline with the largest proportion of 1979 doctorate recipients still seeking employmentor study. It was also the field with the greatest increase from 1969 to 1979 in proportion of graduates seeking a position at time of doctorate. From 1978 to 1979, there was an increase of 41, or 21.0%,in the number of doctorates planning postdoctoral study abroad followinga steady decline since the peak year of 1971. Over the last decade, the field with the largest number of doctorate recipients planning postdoctoral study abroad was the biological sciences. During the same period, Canada, Western Europe, and Northern Europe were the areas most frequently selected for postdoctoral study. Of all the racial/ethnic groups, Hispanics have the proportion of doctorate recipients with a definite commitment for academic employ- ment. Asians and whites are highest among the groups planning employ- ment in business and industry. Black doctorate recipients plan employ- ment in government in greater proportions than the other racial/ethnic groups. Summary Report 1979 DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS FROM UNITED STATES UNIVERSITIES The Survey of Earned Doctorates is conducted by the National Research Council for the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Office of Education, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Peter D. Syverson Staff Associate Commission on Human Resources NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 4 March 1980 SE 2 2 FOREWORD The Survey of Earned Doctorate& is currently William C. This report presents a brief SLIM-lary of data under the administrative supervision of The draft report was prepared by the under- gathered from the Survey of Earned Doctorates dur- Kelly. signed, who, along with Muriel Quinones, had con- ing the academic year 1978-79. The survey is con- tinuine responsibi)ity for the develepmert of the ducted annually by the Commission on Human Resources In addition to (CHR) of the National Research Council.Question- tabular and graphic presentation. naire forms, distributed with the cooperation of Dickens of the National Science Foundation. Education, the Graduate Deans, are filled out by the graduates Donald Bigeow of the U.S. Office of William Copeland of the National Institutes of as they complete all requirements fortheir doctor- Health, and Stanley Turesky of the National. Endow- al degrees. The dcta in this report refer to doc- eent for the Humenitios have ;provided constructive torates eare the period July 1, 1973 to advice in the design and analysis of the survey., a June 30, le 1979), but they do not include contribution that increases its relevance to nation- professiona .j.ees seAch as the M.D., D.D.S. Lloyd Flea, a member of the D.M.D., 0.0., D.O.. D.V.M.. or J.D. They do. hov,!- al policy issues. urcese provided valuable ever, include Loth research and appliedresearch Commission on Huma.n Special appre- doctorates with degrees such as the D.Sc.V.M.. assistance in review of the report. ation also goes to Doris Regewski who supervised S..D.. D-t.5., and Ed.D, A full list of Finan titles of degrees included is shown on theinside the coding and editing of the data, tor Joseph and George Boyce who were responsible for the com- back cover. Morgan This is the thirteenth in a series of yearly puter programming and processing, and to Merle summaries of data from the Survey of Earned Doctor- for her meticulous care in typing the report. The CHR is concerned with those activities of ates, a report series that beoan in 1967. The CHR publishes data gathered during a given fiscaI year the National Research Council that contribute to the more effective development and utilization of the in the following fiscal year Trend data from Its programs seek to earlier periods can ba found' in the book ayeeee nation's human resources. strengthen higher education and to develop better ,eeeeepie.?i7 (National Academy ofSciences, 1978), It is The distribution of the Sur.ey of Earned Dec- understanding of the educational peocess.. torates questionnaire, the maintenance of the re- hoped that prompt reporting of the present data to sulting data file, and the publication of this re- educational, governmental, and professional agencies will facilitate planning in higher education. Sug- port are supported jointly by the NationalScience format of Foundation, the United States Office of Education, gestions for improvement of the content or the National Institutes of Health, and tht National the report and questions or comments will be welcomed. Such communicationS may be directed to theCommission Endowment for the Human ties. The CHR thanks these Council. 2.01 agencies for their assistance. Dr. Charles Dickens on Human Resources., National Research ConSeitution Avenue, Washington. D.C. 20418 of the Science Resources Studies Division of the National Science Foundation is the project officer for the agencies;, his interest and assistance are appreciated. Peter D. Syverson Staff Associate National Research Council with the support of the NOTICE: This report is based on research conducted by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Office ofEducation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Any opinions, findings, and con- National Endowment for the Humanities wider NSF ContractNo. SRS-7917001. necessarily clusions or recommendations expressed in thispublicatiOn are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies. TION lighted in this_ report. Because of continued con- cern with postgraduation opportunities for doctorate een July 1, 1978 and June 30. 1979 a total recipients, this report focuses on three aspects of research doctorates were awarded by !LS. their plans at the time the degree was awarded: Text Table Al. This number consti- first, postgraduation employment and study plans by on increase of 328 or 1.1 from the 30,872 field; second, the numbers planning postdoctoral .;rates awarded in 19175. study in foreign countries; and third. the planned employment sector by racial/ethnic group and field TABLE A roctorates Awarded by U.S.